
A low waste, ethical Christmas is one theme many individuals are embracing with both hands. With Christmas Day officially behind us, you may think your work putting sustainability first is over. But, what if the gifts you received weren’t on your Christmas list?
According to this research, 62% of UK adults receive at least one unwanted gift at Christmas. So, what should you do if you receive a present that you’d rather not keep this festive season?
Donate
There are so many charitable organisations that accept unwanted gifts. In fact, your donation could just make someone else’s day. By donating to a charity of your choice, you’ll be supporting a great cause and preventing unwanted gifts from being needlessly sent to landfill.
Donating unwanted gifts to local schools or community groups is another option. Unwanted gifts make perfect prizes for silent auctions, raffles and tombolas!
Care
If you have a few unwanted gifts or collaborate with others to pool items, you may have just enough products to assemble your own care packages. Candles, toiletries and even snacks make great additions to thoughtfully curated packages, which can be gifted to a friend in need, neighbours or community workers to show you care.
Exchange
If you’re quick, you could return the unwanted gift directly to the store. Many brands, including ours, are extending their returns timeframe to give customers peace of mind when shopping for Christmas.
Here at So Cosy, you can exchange any unwanted gifts purchased during the festive period until Friday 10th January 2025. Please note, this extended period is for exchanges only, not refunds. For further information regarding our returns policy, please read our Terms & Conditions.
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Party
Yes, really! Gift swap parties are fantastic ideas, especially if the return date for the store your unwanted gift is from has been and gone. Invite friends or family to bring their unwanted gifts and exchange them. It’s a fun, low-pressure way to rehome items while spending time with loved ones.
There are several games that have gift swapping at their core. Take the classic ‘White Elephant’ game as an example. Here Creative Homemaking explains the rules:
“In case you’re not familiar, a white elephant gift exchange involves each person bringing a wrapped gift and then taking turns choosing a present from the pile or stealing a gift that someone else has already opened. The catch is that the gifts are often silly, impractical, or downright ridiculous, leading to lots of laughs and surprises.”
Regift
There’s certain to be many more special occasions taking place during the year ahead, which is where a regift closet or drawer will come in handy. By stowing away a healthy supply of gifts, you’ll have a treasure trove of presents to dip into for future occasions, which is great if you aren’t as prepared as you should be for a loved one’s birthday or anniversary.
To make sure there are no regifting mishaps, add a sticky note to each present with the name of the person who gave it to you!
Create
Repurposing or upcycling items into something unique is another option for those looking to make use of unwanted presents.
You could turn a gifted scarf into a bag with a bit of creative thinking, or use a book with uninteresting content to create a decorative stack or secret storage box. Any item can be used as raw material for exciting craft projects!
Sell
For luxury or in-demand items, it may be better to sell or trade online. Platforms like Facebook Marketplace, eBay or local swap groups are ideal for selling items to turn a profit or trading for something you actually want.